Self-awareness is a slippery concept.

Sometimes it means the autobiographical self, which keeps track of our experiences across time and assembles them into a story using language and reflection.

Other times it is registering moment-to-moment sensations in the present.

Sometimes public story and inner experience don't line up. This is excruciatingly tough, both to experience and to communicate.

Interestingly, the 2 systems are localized in the brain disconnected from each other(Kelley et al.-Finding the Self?An Event-Related fMRI Study,2002)

Harvard psychologist Jerome Kagan: the task of describing most private experiences can be likened to reaching down a dark well to pick up small fragile crystal figures while you are wearing thick leather mittens. (in dialogue with the Dalai Lama at MIT, 2006)

So what can we do?

We can transcend some of the inherent inadequacies of language by fully engaging in self-observation,using our whole selves,including sensations,muscular tensions,tone of voice. I'm a fan of @DeniseKShull and her inclusion of body-based wisdom in understanding our decisions

Most agree "self-awareness" is critical for success, health, leadership. But take care your self-awareness isn't just a sophisticated revision of the narrative part of yourself.Go deeper. Write, dance, feel without judgement. If you only know your story, there's more to discover.